Splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT) is one of the vascular complications of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). We designed a phase 2 clinical trial to evaluate safety and efficacy of ruxolitinib in reducing splenomegaly and improving disease-related symptoms in patients with MPN-associated SVT. Patients, diagnosed with myelofibrosis in 12 cases, polycythemia vera in 5 and essential thrombocythemia in 4, received ruxolitinib for 24 weeks in the core study period. Spleen volume was assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and splanchnic vein circulation by echo-Doppler analysis...

AIM: This multicenter study aims to evaluate the incidence of anatomical variations and abnormalities of the third ventricle floor encountered during endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) procedure in myelomeningocele associated hydrocephalus (MAH) cases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on 455 pediatric MAH cases that have been treated with ETV. This case series consisted of the patients who were initially treated with ETV and those who were treated with ETV for the management of cerebrospinal fluid shunt dysfunction as well...

Background: Due to the high failure rate observed in the clinical treatment of morbid obesity an increase in bariatric surgery indications, as an alternative for the control of obesity and comorbidities, is noticeable. Aim: To evaluate the performance of type 2 diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure and dyslipidemia in patients submitted to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in late follow-up. Methods: Retrospective analysis of 59 patients included in the bariatric surgery program...

BACKGROUND: The solid pseudopapillary neoplasm is a rare tumor of the pancreas. However, it´s etiology still maintain discussions. AIM: To analyze it´s clinical data, diagnosis and treatment. METHODS: A retrospective study of medical records of all patients treated from January 1997 until July 2015. RESULTS: Were identified 17 cases. Most patients were women (94.11%) and the average age was 32.88 years. The main complaint was abdominal mass (47...

OBJECTIVE: : This retrospective study evaluated treatment with individually contoured molded bracing at early stages of the disease. METHODS: : We evaluated the medical records of patients undergoing treatment of Blount's disease with molded orthoses for medial decompression between 2010 and 2014. The deformity angle (Drennan's metaphyseal-diaphyseal angle) and Langenskiöld classification were measured before and after treatment by a pediatric orthopedic surgeon with over 5 years of practice, blinded for the study and patients...

OBJECT: Tumors leading to occlusion of the sylvian aqueduct include those of pineal, thalamic, and tectal origins. These tumors cause obstructive hydrocephalus and thus necessitate a CSF diversion procedure such as an endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV), often coupled with an endoscopic biopsy (EBX). Lesions located posterior to the massa intermedia pose a technical challenge, as the use of a rigid endoscope for performing both an ETV and EBX is limited. The authors describe their experience using a combined rigid and flexible endoscopic procedure through a single bur hole for both procedures in patients with posterior third ventricular tumors...

BACKGROUND: Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is still now a controversial technique, which remains the subject of a number of prospective randomised trials. Although questions remain regarding its long-term durability, objective evidence exists which demonstrates its reduced physiological impact compared with conventional open repair, especially for older population and for the concomitant treatment of aortic abdominal aneurysm (AAA) and abdominal neoplas, such as colo-rectal cancer (CRC)...

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Several neuromotor disorders share exclusive, although often overlooked, nutritional problems. The objective of this study is therefore to delineate the frequency of malnutrition, evaluate the effectiveness of nutritional care, and identify issues needing to be possibly strengthened when caring for these patients into a general pediatrics department. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 30 patients, 21 males and 9 females, aged between 2 and 15 years, affected by cerebral palsy, epileptic encephalopathy, and severe psychomotor developmental delay...

Meckel's diverticulum (MD ) is the most common congenital anomaly of the gastrointestinal tract. We revalued clinical records of patients discharged from Unit of Urgent and General Surgery of Highly Specialized Hospital "A.O.R.N. Antonio Cardarelli" of Naples with diagnosis of acute pathology associated to complicated MD from 1(st) January 2011 to 30(th) November 2012. Seven consecutive cases have been chosen: five males (71,4%) and two females (28,6%). The age ranges over from 13 to 50 years with a 28 years average...

We describe a case of a 64-year-old man with a history of ITP which had required several treatments including splenectomy, and with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection untreated due to severe thrombocytopenia. In March 2011, platelet count was 14,000/mmc and a thrombopoietic therapy with romiplostim was initiated at the dose of 2 mcg/kg/week that was increased to 8 mcg/kg/week. At week 32, platelet count was 65,000/mmc and an anti-HCV therapy with peginterferon and ribavirin was then started. At baseline laboratory tests indicated AST 99IU/l, ALT 125UI/l, HCV_RNA 3,220 UI/ml and HCV genotype 2a/2c...

INTRODUCTION: Deliberate self-poisoning is a serious problem in Morocco, including in the Souss-Massa-Drâa region. However, our understanding of the problem of suicidal poisoning remains limited. SUBJECT: This paper aims to describe the characteristics of patients, toxic substances and poisoning and to identify the risk factors influencing patient outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted of all cases of deliberate self-poisoning recorded between 1981 and 2007 by the Centre Anti-Poison et de Pharmacovigilance du Maroc...

CONTEXT: Serum thyroglobulin (Tg) assays are considered fundamental in postoperative surveillance of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients. However, the postsurgical profile of Tg levels has never been specifically investigated in patients who do not undergo radioiodine remnant ablation (RRA). OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to explore the evolution of Tg levels over time in DTC patients treated with total or near-total thyroidectomy without RRA. DESIGN: We retrospectively analyzed 290 consecutively diagnosed cases of low-risk (American Thyroid Association criteria) DTC treated with thyroidectomy alone and followed yearly with neck ultrasonography and serum Tg assays...

The present study aims to determine the main characteristics of ophidian envenomation in the Souss-Massa-Drâa region in Morocco. It consisted of a descriptive retrospective analysis of all snakebite cases recorded by the Moroccan Poison Control and Pharmacovigilance Center, from 1980 to 2008. According to reported data, this region is the most affected in Morocco with 479 cases, that is 27.6% (17 cases/year). The average age of victims was 26.07 ± 18.28 years. The patients developed clinical signs (55%) dominated by disorders of the digestive system (35...

OBJECT: Simultaneous endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) and tumor biopsy is a widely accepted therapeutic and diagnostic procedure for patients with noncommunicating hydrocephalus secondary to a pineal region tumor. Multiple approaches have been advocated, including the use of a steerable fiberoptic or rigid lens endoscope via 1 or 2 trajectories. However, the optimal approach has not been established based on the individual anatomical characteristics of the patient. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients undergoing simultaneous ETV and tumor biopsy was undertaken...

BACKGROUND: Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) currently represent the cornerstone of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) pharmacotherapy. However, OCD is characterized by high rates of partial and/or absent response to standard, recommended treatments, often prompting pharmacological and non-pharmacological augmentation or switching of strategies. Agomelatine, a novel melatonin agonist and selective serotonin antagonist (MASSA) antidepressant approved for major depressive disorder (MDD) has recently been additionally proposed as a treatment for anxiety disorders such as social anxiety disorder (SAD) and panic disorder (PD), but not yet OCD...

The first record of Ornithodoros (Alectorobius) coniceps (Canestrini) was reported for Italy in 1877, inside the interstices of the ancient mosaics at S. Marco Basilica in Venice. Afterwards only few discoveries of the species are reported for Italy; the last record is dated back to 1984, in L'Aquila town (Abruzzo Region). The present study shows the data of a survey carried out as a result of a massive infestation by O. coniceps in an ancient villa in Anzio town (Latium region) recently restored. In the past decades the villa has been fallen into disrepair, becoming an occasional shelter for wild animals mainly pigeons, that colonized the whole building for generations...

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The characteristics, diagnosis, classification and treatment options of rare fractures of the sacrum known as suicidal jumper's fractures are presented based on six illustrative cases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Jumper's fractures of the sacrum are characterised by an H- or U-shaped fracture line in the upper sacrum, usually involving the S1-S2 region. Typically, the anterior segment of the pelvic ring is not injured. In most cases this injury is associated with polytrauma and it is imperative that the patients undergo thorough neurological examination including that for perineal sensitivity and anal tone...

Epileptic nystagmus (EN) describes repetitive eye movements that result from seizure activity. We describe a patient with EN and vertigo first noted at the age of 4 yr and 10 mo. Brain MRI did not show anomalies. Ictal EEG recordings revealed epileptic activity during three episodes of horizontal, left-beating nystagmus not crossing the midline. Ictal 99mTc-ECD SPECT demonstrated the presence of active foci in multiple cerebral regions including bilateral prefrontal, bilateral parieto-temporo-occipital and the left parieto-insular-vestibular areas...

Europe was officially declared free from malaria in 1975; nevertheless, this disease remains a potential problem related to the presence of former vectors, belonging to the Anopheles maculipennis complex. Autochthonous-introduced malaria cases, recently reported in European countries, together with the predicted climatic and environmental changes, have increased the concern of health authorities over the possible resurgence of this disease in the Mediterranean Basin. In Italy, to study the distribution and bionomics of indigenous anopheline populations and to assess environmental parameters that could influence their dynamics, an entomological study was carried out in 2005-2006 in an at-risk study area...

This prospective comparative study of obstetric fistulae (OF) was aimed at identifying risk factors. A total of 80 obstetric fistulae treated at the gynaecological unit of the FMCG, and 80 inpatients without fistulae recruited randomly as controls formed the basis of this study. Through interview and case record review, information on age, parity and marital status was collected. Other features were educational status, occupation and booking status of the pregnancy that might have led to this condition. The duration of labour, place of birth and mode of delivery, including its outcome were also collected...